Theo Raidan
Department Assistant
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Lot 47
Rothschild Tazza: a 19th century French hardstone, gold, silver-gilt and enamelled figural tazza signed Morel et Cie, Rue Neuve St Augustin, Paris, circa 1842-48
5 July 2024, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £10,240 inc. premium
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Ellis Finch
Head of Knightsbridge Silver Department
Rothschild Tazza: a 19th century French hardstone, gold, silver-gilt and enamelled figural tazza
signed Morel et Cie, Rue Neuve St Augustin, Paris, circa 1842-48
The circular chalcedony dish with a handle modelled as a kneeling fairy with enamelled wings, highlights and curling ribbon strapwork holding a armorial shield with the Rothschild arms, two further putti mounts, the stem formed as two nymphs sitting back to back against an elaborate green translucent enamelled palm tree, separated by two shields each enamelled an L and an R entwined with a banner motto: "Concordia, Integritas, Industria," on a carved rock crystal cushion with enamelled spreading foot, with script L in enamel underneath, height 14.4cm.
The circular chalcedony dish with a handle modelled as a kneeling fairy with enamelled wings, highlights and curling ribbon strapwork holding a armorial shield with the Rothschild arms, two further putti mounts, the stem formed as two nymphs sitting back to back against an elaborate green translucent enamelled palm tree, separated by two shields each enamelled an L and an R entwined with a banner motto: "Concordia, Integritas, Industria," on a carved rock crystal cushion with enamelled spreading foot, with script L in enamel underneath, height 14.4cm.
Footnotes
Jean-Valentin Morel (1794-1860) was the son of the Parisian lapidary Valentin Morel. Starting his apprenticeship in his father's workshop, he transferred to that of the gold box maker Adrien Vachette. He began working on his own account in 1827, choosing the same initials for his mark as his master: M V.
In 1842, he set up a partnership with architect Henri Duponchel to form Morel et Cie in Rue Neuve St Augustin. Morel was able to expand his enterprise and is said at this time to have employed some eighty craftsmen, including lapidaries, enamellers and goldsmiths. Controversially, he used gold, gilt and damascening on his artworks.
In 1848, the partnership was dissolved in a bitter lawsuit and Morel was barred from working in the Department of the Seine. He moved his business to London where he had considerable success at the Great Exhibition of 1851. It could be said that his career culminated in the magnificent Hope Cup, shown at the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris.
The L and R on the shields suggest a connection to Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808 – 1879), a banker, politician and philanthropist. He became the first practising Jew to sit as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
Lionel's brother, Sir Anthony Nathan de Rothschild, (1810 – 1876) is associated with an important agate cup and cover by Morel from the late 1830's, see Sotheby's, 10 May 2016, ex lot 6. Perhaps the present lot was a gift from Anthony to Lionel on the occasion of the birth of his son, Leopold, in 1845.
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